The Explosive Power of David Ortiz

July 28, 2013 8:12 p.m. ET

It's a little late in David Ortiz's career to be pondering this, but should Big Papi become a switch-hitter?

This came to mind after the All-Star Red Sox slugger bashed a Camden Yards dugout phone with his bat Saturday. (He was upset over a strike call by umpire Tim Timmons that had led to a strikeout.) Ortiz has hit exclusively from the left side throughout his 17-year major-league career, but when he was battering that phone, he made two of his swings with a right-handed motion.

ENLARGE

David Ortiz smashes the dugout phone with his bat on Saturday.
NESN/MLB

The technique, the bat speed, the explosiveness—it was all there. Ortiz had his right hand on top of his left, just as a righty is supposed to. He choked up on the bat more than he ordinarily does, but it didn't cost him any power, judging by the shards he sent flying.

Switch-hitting could make Ortiz, the all-time hits leader among designated hitters, even more dangerous. Opposing managers would have to think twice about bringing in lefty relievers to face him. Ortiz's numbers against lefty pitchers (.763 on-base-plus-slugging percentage) might start resembling his otherworldly stats against righties (1.160 OPS).

Or he could disregard our tongue-in-cheek suggestion and just continue doing what he's doing. On Sunday, the day after his outburst and ejection, Ortiz went 4-for-4 with a home run in Boston's 5-0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

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